What are greenhouse gases?

Have you ever learned about global warming or Climate Change? It might be hard to believe on a freezing winter day, but over the course of time, the average temperatures on Earth have been slowing getting warmer. Some people believe this is happening naturally, but leading science points to the excess greenhouse gases being released into the environment by man-made industrial practices.

Greenhouse gases are types of gases that exist in the Earth’s atmosphere like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. Natural amounts of greenhouse gases actually help make our planet livable – when the sun’s rays shine down onto Earth, greenhouse gases help keep some of their heat close to our planet instead of letting it all escape – this is usually known as the greenhouse effect. (Without greenhouse gases, our planet’s average temperature would be about 60°F colder!)

However, many scientific findings show that in recent years, industrial and agricultural practices like fuel use, raising cattle, and factory production have caused us to release a lot more greenhouse gases than our planet is used to having! Too much of the sun’s heat is being trapped by the increased levels of these gases, and it’s giving us warmer temperatures, also known as global warming.

According to most science specialists, the high levels of greenhouse gases now being regularly released into the atmosphere are having (and will continue to have) negative affects on our beautiful planet. The increase in temperature is causing things like the melting of glaciers and rising sea levels. The lives of many plants and animals are becoming endangered because their natural habitats are changing faster than they can keep up! The well-being of mankind is greatly affected too, and we need to make sure that we leave a healthy planet behind for the generations that will come after us!

Why are greenhouse gases called greenhouse gases?

The greenhouse effect gets its name from the way a greenhouse works: The glass walls allow the sun’s rays to enter but not leave, much like greenhouse gases do for the planet!

Greening up!

It is everyone’s responsibility to do his or her own part in preventing global warming. Here are some things you can do to help limit greenhouse gases!

Instead of driving, ask grown-ups if the place you are going is close enough that you could walk or bike instead. Carpooling, buses, and other public transportation also help you to limit the fuel you use.

Eat less meat!

Try to buy groceries and produce from local companies, or grow your own vegetables in your backyard! – Food from far away has to burn up a lot of fuel to get to where you live.